How Zelensky’s right-hand man fell from power

Andriy Yermak has always occupied an important position in the Ukrainian government and is a seemingly untouchable figure on the political stage.

Despite his size, you may not always spot him. However, wherever President Zelensky is, Yermak is often not far away.

As his chief of staff, Yermak wielded immense power at the top of the government and was even trusted to represent Ukraine in peace negotiations with the United States.

But as his influence has grown, so has public dissatisfaction with the power wielded by the unelected official. His political career ended abruptly on Friday, hours after anti-corruption investigators raided his home in Kiev.

Yermak and Zelensky first met in 2011, when the former was an intellectual property lawyer and the latter a television producer.

Yermak became Zelensky’s chief of staff after working together on the successful 2019 presidential campaign. When the Russians began their full-scale invasion of Kiev in February 2022, he stood next to the president and delivered his famous “We’re still here” speech.

With Zelensky’s concentration of power, Yermak is widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Ukraine. He reportedly helped shape foreign policy, oust political opponents and even make battlefield decisions.

Ukrainian politics is shaped by big names, and Zelensky’s government has not one, but two.

While Yermak enjoys favorable conditions within the sprawling presidential palace, he does not enjoy the same treatment outside the steep walls.

His popularity plummeted.

President Zelensky has successfully dealt with corruption scandals in the past, but a series of events starting in July shook the current government to its core, weakening Zelensky’s political standing and costing him his right-hand man.

That month, the president persuaded parliament to formally de-independence Ukraine’s two anti-corruption agencies and place them under direct government control.

At the time, Zelensky said this was to limit Russian interference.

But the public, as well as the European Union, disagreed and he was forced to make a U-turn after massive demonstrations.

By the fall, those agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sapo), released the results of a long-running investigation that implicated members of Zelensky’s inner circle.

Senior figures – including two ministers, a former deputy prime minister and a one-time business partner of Zelenskiy – are accused of embezzling $100m (£75m) from public projects in the energy sector.

Public anger over these corruption accusations soared as Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy grid with missiles and drones ahead of the war’s fourth winter, forcing the country to endure daily blackouts.

On Friday night alone, Kiev suffered nearly 11 hours of Russian air strikes that knocked out power to more than 500,000 people.

“We are going through one of the most difficult times in history,” Kiev resident Irina told the BBC this week. “Unfortunately, many families will not be able to see their loved ones, men, brothers or husbands because of the war.”

Although Andrei Yermak was not named as a suspect and denied involvement in the scheme, he was unable to distance himself.

There was suspicion that he might know something.

Local media reported on Saturday that investigators were scrutinizing several laptops and mobile phones seized from his apartment during the search.

Yermak chaired talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Geneva last week, apparently offering his country some concessions in a U.S.-drafted peace proposal that many fear is heavily tilted toward Russia.

His resignation is deeply destabilizing as Ukraine fights and negotiates for its survival.

Talks will continue next week. Ukraine’s presidential office said on Saturday that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was leading a delegation to the United States.

What remains unclear is whether this will be a timely restart for Kyiv or whether the lack of continuity will come at a high cost.

It is unclear how Yermak felt about his sudden departure from the government. The New York Post reported Saturday that he texted the newspaper and vowed to go to the front lines. He also proclaimed his innocence.

“I will go to the front lines and be prepared for any retaliation,” he reportedly said. “I am an honest and decent man.”

But there is a sense that Yermak’s departure is a sign of positive change.

“Let’s just call it that: good news,” Olga Rudenko saysEditor of the Kyiv Independent.

“Think about it: a young democracy like Ukraine has independent institutions strong enough to investigate the country’s most powerful people – and do so during a war.

“Those who support Ukraine around the world do not support a place on the map, but a place that lives by and fights for certain values. Today we see those values ​​in action.

“This shows why Ukraine is exactly the country worth supporting.”

Additional reporting by Toby Luckhurst